Robert Lowery

I had my fourth meeting with the oncologist on Thursday, December 10. After talking it over with Marilyn, she thought we needed to update you on my health issues. We have appreciated your concern, and we hope that the information I share below is appropriate and will guide you as you pray for us.

Dr. Bretscher informed me that there are four stages in the spreading of carcinoid tumors. Because the tumors are now in my liver, I am at stage four, the final one. Evidently by the expression on my face, she could tell I was a bit surprised! She encouraged me to keep in perspective that the cancer is very slow growing and that it is unique with regard to how fast it spreads in an individual. Since there is no way to say how rapid the tumors will spread, this means stage four can last for a considerable period of time, and in fact, it usually does. She would not, however, provide a calendar of any kind because of the nature of the disease and because of its unique impact on each individual. She reminded me that it took nearly three years for the cancer to move from the mesentery to the liver, and therefore it may take a considerable period of time before it spreads to other organs.

I am encouraged by this but I am also concerned. The classifying of the cancer’s progress was a new way of viewing it, at least to me, but I guess I should not be surprised. If nothing else brings about my death and unless a cure is found or healing takes place in some other way, this cancer will lead to my death. All of this is rather sobering, but we continue to trust in God.

In light of the nature of the cancer, the doctor told me that it is crucial for me to continue meeting with her on a regular basis so she can monitor my situation to determine if the tumors are spreading or if the ones already present are growing. Each month she will ask me a set of questions to assess where I am and then treat accordingly.

With regard to the painful spasms I have been experiencing for a number of years, it has been confirmed (or reconfirmed) by other specialists that they are caused by the tumor in the mesentery. When the tumor shifts, the blood flow to various parts of the body, especially the intestines, is significantly impaired. At present, the specialists do not recommend surgery of any kind because they do not believe there would be significant improvement in alleviating the pain and there is a very high risk factor for such surgery. Hence, Marilyn and I have rejected surgery as an option. I will have to simply endure the discomfort when it comes.

We talked about my appetite and diet. I continue to lose around eight to ten pounds a month and am considering auditioning to be one of the world’s greatest losers, but I am afraid I am not qualified. I told her that I normally dread any kind of food at any point during the day because no matter how bland or how rich there are unpleasant consequences in varying degrees. The monthly injections (four up to this point) are helping control the symptoms, and she is optimistic that I will see improvement in the weeks ahead as the dosage is increased. As a side note, for the last year or so I have been walking three to four miles a day on my Nordic Track. If/Since I am going to die, I am going to die as healthy and as strong as possible! But then that is true of all of us and should be true for all of us.

Even though doctors have found nothing that stops the spread of the tumors, she thinks I am a good candidate for some active treatments that are not yet FDA-approved but may be approved in specific situations such as carcinoid tumors. There is a pill that has been approved to combat kidney cancer, and in some cases it has been successful in reducing the size and the spread of the carcinoid tumors. She is going to ask the insurance company to approve that I begin taking the pills immediately. I am very encouraged by this and hope that approval is given.

We also talked about my energy level. She told me that I will probably need more rest and will have to pace myself with regard to activities. She saw no reason why I could not continue my ministry of teaching, administrating, mentoring, etc. with minimal impact on my contributions. Of course, when I am experiencing considerable pain from time to time, I may be a bit narcotized, but that will explain some things that I may say or do on those occasions. I praise God for that affirmation to return to work. I am not ready to retire or cut back significantly. I love my ministry among you and the students.

My friends and colleagues, I confess to you that I have found myself fighting some depression (“Normal!” she said) off and on during the past several months. I have spent much time reading Scripture and praying and reflecting. I have also completed a rough draft on nearly the first fourteen chapters of Revelation (approximately 250 pages), and even though I hoped to be farther along in the project, I am grateful for the progress made. As Becky Boggs observed, it has been a good thing that I have been on sabbatical so that I have had the time to tend to the medical issues that needed to be addressed. She observed that the bad thing about the sabbatical is that I have had extra time on my hands to think about the “what-ifs” of life. I look forward to returning to the classroom in particular and to my ministry among you in 2010.

Even though the symptoms will continue until a cure is found or healing is granted, in the spirit of James 5, through a combination of medicines and prayers, the symptoms can be somewhat managed. We ask you to continue praying for God’s blessing and strength for us in the days ahead. Again, we are grateful for you being on this journey with us.

Related posts:

1. Health Update, December 11, 2009